I have a friend from my choir. She is British and my parent’s age. She took me and my husband to many National Trust places as she is a volunteer gardener at one of the National Trust places. Therefore she can visit for free with two companions. My husband and I really had a good time visiting National Trust places like Tatton Park, Dunham Massy and so on. She also took us to Buxton for the concert that our former conductor of the chorus performs as a solo baritone singer. She knows a lot about music, British history and gardens and is fantastic company to have on a day out together.
I wanted to do something for her to show how much I appreciated her kindness so I invited her to my place for a Japanese lunch. My friend loved my idea and she said, “My taste-buds are already tingling!” This sounds fancy but what shall I cook for her? Japanese restaurants in Manchester serve Sushi and Teriyaki Salmon as typical Japanese meals, however Japanese people don’t eat Sushi much. In addition, I never heard of Teriyaki Salmon before coming to Manchester.
Authentic Japanese food is a bit different from the image British people have, I assume. Anyway my friend doesn’t like seafood so it’s a bit difficult to find something good for her. I remember an article written about popular Japanese food among British people. It said, “Oyako-don is chicken and onions with egg cooked with special sauce served on top of a bowl of rice. This is popular for British people trying something other than sushi.” So I chose to cook this and I also made miso-soup, Hiyayakko which is a chilled tofu and a salad with wasabi seasoning. My friend really enjoyed all of them except the Tofu. She said, “I was very impressed by all the different delicious dishes you made, and it feels very good to have had a real 'taste of Japan'.” I’m very happy to hear this. I’m also happy to know that I could do something for her.
Monday 29 August 2011
Friday 26 August 2011
My stay in Manchester
Time flies and I’ve been staying in Manchester for four years and two months. Finally, my husband got a job in US and we are leaving in September. I started my leaving procedures, at first; I went to my estate agency and notified them about my leaving as the cancellation should be mentioned one month prior to leaving. Just after I mentioned about my leaving, the estate agency put my apartment on their web site and people started to come to view my place.
On the first day, I wasn’t sure what kind of people would come so I was a bit scared. However, people were nice and they greeted me and said “thank you” when leaving. I started to enjoy letting people view my place for a while. However, on the second day, 12 groups came to check my place. Each of them came in five minutes and I became totally fed up of answering the interphone and opening my door. The thing which annoys me the most is that some people don’t request the type of room I live in, but they also came. It means the agency staff waste their customer’s time and also my time. I understand it is a busy season where many people look for places to live, and the agency is busy, however they kept calling me and asking me to stay home for this hopeless viewing. On Friday, the agency asked me to stay at home on Monday. I told them I’m available after 5pm. Then he rang me again and told me about some re-arrangements. “No Monday viewing but 10am and some other viewing on Tuesday.” On Monday, the agency rang me again and told me, “10am and 2pm on Tuesday” and he said, “See you tomorrow”. However he came to my place at 5pm on Monday and said, “You told me you’re available after 5pm on Monday.”
It is said, Japanese can’t say “No” in general but now I can say “No” if it’s necessary. So I told him, “You said there’s no viewing on Monday so I can’t let you show my place now.” Then he said “OK, bye.” and left.
On Tuesday, a different staff member came. This time, he came with five people at once and finished the viewing within ten minutes. They came on 2 occasions at 10am and 2pm. So I didn’t have to answer the interphone and open the door repeatedly. It’s much less stressful for me. However this endless viewing will continue. Now I notice that my place isn’t as popular although I’ve been living here for four years!
On the first day, I wasn’t sure what kind of people would come so I was a bit scared. However, people were nice and they greeted me and said “thank you” when leaving. I started to enjoy letting people view my place for a while. However, on the second day, 12 groups came to check my place. Each of them came in five minutes and I became totally fed up of answering the interphone and opening my door. The thing which annoys me the most is that some people don’t request the type of room I live in, but they also came. It means the agency staff waste their customer’s time and also my time. I understand it is a busy season where many people look for places to live, and the agency is busy, however they kept calling me and asking me to stay home for this hopeless viewing. On Friday, the agency asked me to stay at home on Monday. I told them I’m available after 5pm. Then he rang me again and told me about some re-arrangements. “No Monday viewing but 10am and some other viewing on Tuesday.” On Monday, the agency rang me again and told me, “10am and 2pm on Tuesday” and he said, “See you tomorrow”. However he came to my place at 5pm on Monday and said, “You told me you’re available after 5pm on Monday.”
It is said, Japanese can’t say “No” in general but now I can say “No” if it’s necessary. So I told him, “You said there’s no viewing on Monday so I can’t let you show my place now.” Then he said “OK, bye.” and left.
On Tuesday, a different staff member came. This time, he came with five people at once and finished the viewing within ten minutes. They came on 2 occasions at 10am and 2pm. So I didn’t have to answer the interphone and open the door repeatedly. It’s much less stressful for me. However this endless viewing will continue. Now I notice that my place isn’t as popular although I’ve been living here for four years!
Wednesday 24 August 2011
Wednesday 17 August 2011
A Riot
A riot occurred in Manchester last Tuesday. It is said, it was the worst day in Manchester in 30 years. On the evening, my Japanese class was canceled and many shops were closed earlier than usual. Many police officers were patrolling to prevent the riot however, it still happened. It was shocking.
In Japan the riots were broadcasted as riots in the UK, so my friends and families were unaware of the situation in Manchester. So I received some emails from them to make sure I am okay. Now things seem sorted out although many window glasses from shops are still broken.
In Japan the riots were broadcasted as riots in the UK, so my friends and families were unaware of the situation in Manchester. So I received some emails from them to make sure I am okay. Now things seem sorted out although many window glasses from shops are still broken.
Tuesday 9 August 2011
Oh No!
For the security reason, the language institution will be closed this evening and my Japanese class will also be canceled. Hope nothing serious will be happening in Manchester.
Thursday 4 August 2011
Holiday in Poland
I have been to Krakow, Poland from 27th to 31st July. The reason to choose the place is simple. My husband and my friends were planning to travel to Krakow and asked us to visit there together. We have traveled to Paris, Amsterdam and some other places in the UK before with them and had a good time. So it’s a perfect opportunity for us to take a holiday. Although Auschwitz is not a pleasant place for Polish people, it is my first priority to visit there in Poland. I was also interested in Wieliczka Salt Mines and visiting other historical places like castles and churches.
On the first day that we arrived, it was raining so we went to a church. I’m not a religious person but I like to visit churches because each of them has different atmospheres and makes me feel spiritual. The church in Krakow has a very high blue ceiling and so much gold is used for decoration. It also has some stories from the Bible shown on the walls.
On the second day, it was a fine day so we went to a castle on the hill. In the castle we saw many armors and weapons, which told us the battle field history. After that we enjoyed walking around. The city is surrounded by a park so it is lovely to have a walk there.
On the third day, my husband and I went to Auschwitz while our friends joined the “Communist Tour”. The tour sounded interesting to us but I didn’t want to miss my first priority so we split into two pairs during the daytime and met for dinner. Before my visit to Auschwitz, I’d already watched a film called “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”, so the landscape was familiar in some aspects. However it was very special to visit there and to listen to the story from the tour guide lady.
On the last day, we went to Wieliczka Salt Mines together. In the salt mines, there are a lot of sculptures made of salt rock. In the main hall, the floor and chandelier crystals were also made of salt rock. In olden times, salt was very expensive so Polish people could build castles using the money earned from salt mines. However, it became much simpler to get salt and nowadays people can walk on floors made of salt rock. People can even have a wedding ceremony in the main hall, although it’s still expensive.
Hotel staff is very helpful and speak good English. The food is delicious and public transport is punctual. In addition, all of these are cheaper than in the UK.
On the first day that we arrived, it was raining so we went to a church. I’m not a religious person but I like to visit churches because each of them has different atmospheres and makes me feel spiritual. The church in Krakow has a very high blue ceiling and so much gold is used for decoration. It also has some stories from the Bible shown on the walls.
On the second day, it was a fine day so we went to a castle on the hill. In the castle we saw many armors and weapons, which told us the battle field history. After that we enjoyed walking around. The city is surrounded by a park so it is lovely to have a walk there.
On the third day, my husband and I went to Auschwitz while our friends joined the “Communist Tour”. The tour sounded interesting to us but I didn’t want to miss my first priority so we split into two pairs during the daytime and met for dinner. Before my visit to Auschwitz, I’d already watched a film called “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”, so the landscape was familiar in some aspects. However it was very special to visit there and to listen to the story from the tour guide lady.
On the last day, we went to Wieliczka Salt Mines together. In the salt mines, there are a lot of sculptures made of salt rock. In the main hall, the floor and chandelier crystals were also made of salt rock. In olden times, salt was very expensive so Polish people could build castles using the money earned from salt mines. However, it became much simpler to get salt and nowadays people can walk on floors made of salt rock. People can even have a wedding ceremony in the main hall, although it’s still expensive.
Hotel staff is very helpful and speak good English. The food is delicious and public transport is punctual. In addition, all of these are cheaper than in the UK.
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